THE BLOOD

Pastor Harry preached this past Sunday on the law; rules God established in the first five books of the Bible, and how these rules instructed the Israelites to be holy, or set apart, for God.  He also contrasted how being holy under the law is different from being holy following Christ’s death on the cross.

We see examples in the Old Testament where people, places, and objects of worship were called holy, or “set apart” for God’s honor and use:

Exodus 28:41 Aaron and his sons
Exodus 29:21 Aaron, his sons and their clothes
Exodus 30:10 Aaron purifying the altar

Leviticus 27:21 A field in its Year of Jubilee

In the New Testament, we find that we are only justified by our faith in Christ whose blood on the cross covers the sins of all that accept Him through faith:

Romans 5 (NIV) 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Galatians 2 (NIV) 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient to pay for everyone’s sin debt. However, it’s only applicable for those who by faith repent of their sins and accept Him. We have all sinned and fallen short but through repentance and acceptance of Christ through faith, we are saved.  

God asks an ordinary person to engage in extraordinary trust. While He is sovereign, in His grace God has given us the freedom to decide our own earthly and eternal fate.  We have the opportunity to live joyous and meaningful lives on earth as well as spend eternity in His presence. 

We should understand the law and how a blood sacrifice was critical to forgiveness for breaking the rules but more importantly, as Christ-followers, we also understand that His blood is the only way to our being made holy and set apart.